Improvement in flood-gates



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETGEc LOUIS I. "WATHEN, OF MORGANFIELD, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOOD-GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,529, dated October29, 1878; application tiled June 22, 1878.

Morganfield, in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Flood-Gates, of which the following isaspecilication:

The invention relates to a mechanical device which I claim to beself-acting, depending upon two natural forces for its complete andsuccessful operation.

The object of my invention is to provide a Hood-gate that is self-acting, and which offers no resistance to drift, and is stock-proof.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters of referencerepresent like parts, Figure'l is a perspective of a device embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same; and Fig. 3represents the paddle-shaped lever herein referred to.

The powers referred to operate, rst, by the action and force of flowingwater through the openings H near thelower edge of the gates G, actingupon the paddle-shaped lever J K, connected at L with the latches F,which latches are substantially fastened by pivots to the gates Gr, andpassing through mortises I and by the notches and beveled ends F, makinga substantial fastening under the crossbar E, which cross-bar isattached to the pendant D, which pendant is from the crossbeam C, and isabove high water.

The action and force of the water when it has raised above the openingsH inthe gates G, which openings are just above low water, force thepaddle-shaped lever J K down the stream, thus relieving the latches -Fat E, and forcing the gates open to any angle less than ninety degrees(900) from the posts B down stream, thus permitting the flood of water,together with all drift, to pass through between the upright posts Bunder the cross-beam C, in the manner as set forth.

By the action of gravitation my gates are self closing in the followingmanner: The gates G, which are hung on strong hinges to the posts B,which posts, with the crossbeam C, lea-n up stream five or more degrees(50) from a vertical line, and thus the gates Gr, not being permitted toopen beyond a right line with the inside faces of the mud-sills A, mustby gravitation close and fasten themselves by the catches F under thebar E.

I claim- The combination, with the frame A B O, of the inclined gate G,having holes H, paddlelevers J K, and the fastening device,substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS I. WATHEN.

Vitnesses:

R. A. WALLER, J ACK J. SPALDING.

